Door closer



Feb 27, 1923.,

W. J. KUHLS DOOR CLOSER Filed Jan. 10, 1922 WILLIAM J. KUHLS, 0E DAYTON, UHIO.

DOOR CLQSEB.

- Application filed January 10, 1922.

T0 (ZZZ 107mm may concern.

Be it known that l, /VILLIAM J. Knrrns, citizen of the United States. residing at ayton, in the county of Montgomery and ate of Ohio, have invented certain new on d useful improvements in Door Closers, 0' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to door closers and checks and more particularly to one having an actuating spring and a dash pot or fluid pressure governor.

The invention contemplates a construction where in a helical spring mounted upon the door frame and actuating a. swing arm connected to the door serves to close the door against the yielding resistance of a fluid pressure governor comprising reciprocatory piston within an oil filled cylinder. the piston being provided with a valve permitting the free flow of the oil or controlling fluid when the piston is moved in one direction by the opening of the door, but adapted to close and compel the return of the fluid through a restricted by-pass upon its opposite movement during the closing operation, the capacity of which bypass is varied in accordance with the movement of the piston by a tapered bight or stud extending therethrough and in relation with which the piston travels.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation, whereby such combined door closing and checking devices will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more eflicient in use, post-ive in operation, uniform in action, easily and quickly applied and unlikely to get out of repair.

The further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of mounting for the operating structure and improved means of connecting the movable parts upon the supporting bracket, and operat-ively connect-- ing the actuating spring therewith.

A. further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of dash pot governor and to provide therefor an automatically varying by-pass by which the closing movement of the door is gradually checked or retarded.

A further object of the invention is to provide a weight operated mechanism to be substituted for the actuating sprin With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully Serial No. 528,305.

appear in the specification, the invention consists in the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referr' to the drawings, Fig. l is a front elevation partly in section of the assembled actuating and governing mechanism. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the upper supporting bracket. Fig. 3 is a trans verse sectional plan view showing the lower supporting bracket and adjacent parts. Figs. 4: and 5 are detail views illustrating the interconnection of the swinging head portion with the supporting bracket. Fig. is a detail end view of the piston head, showing the valved opening therein. Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in' section of a modification wherein pulley weight is substituted for the helical actuating spring shown in Figure 1. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the throw of the control piston.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawings. wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only embodiment of the invention, l and 2 are supporting brackets to be attached in spaced relation to the frame of the door, adjacent to its hinged side. Fixedly supported in the brackets 1 and 2 preferably by pinning or otherwise as by a key 3, to prevent rotation, is a vertically disposed shaft 4:. This shaft t carries at its lower end a crank head 5. Mounted for oscillatory movement upon the main shaft 4 beneath the lower supporting bracket2 is a swinging head 6from which projects laterally a hollow cylindrical arm 7, forming the cylinder of a dash pot governor. A coil spring 8 surrounds the shaft 4: intermediate the bearings 1 and 2, with its upper end fixedly engaged with the upper bearing bracket 1, and its lower end 0peratively connected with the swinging head 6. The head 6 is provided with a spaced arcuate arm 9, extending'throughout sub stantially an arc of 180 around the shaft t and overhanging the lower bracketQ. This arcuate overhanging arm 9 is connected with the headtl by the intermediate spacing lug 10 which. alii'ords a connection forthe such position.

the shaft 4i.

lower end of the actuating spring 8, and furthermore by its overhanging bearing upon the supporting bracket 2, assists in supporting the oscillatory head 6 and connected parts. The shaft l is mounted in the supporting brackets 1 and 2 in such position that the crank head 5 extends angularly in relation with the axis of the dash; pot cylinder 7 when the door is in its closed position, and the opening of the door tends to move this cylinder away from a dead center position rather than toward. That is to say, the shaft l: is revolubly adjusted to such position that the crank head 5 is at all times oif'dead center. In this case the crank head is sta tionary, and the cylinder 7 oscillates to different radial positions in relation with. To the head 11 of the cylinder there is connected an operating arm or extension 12, by screw threading as shown, by pinning or otherwise, to which arm or ex'tensionis connected a. link 13 pivotally attached at its opposite ends to the bracket '14:, secured to the swinging-(icon Located within the cylinder 7 is a piston 15, con nected to the crank head by a pitman or connecting rod 16. Theswinging movement of the cylinder 7 to and fro about the fixed shaft l effects a relative reciprocatory movement between the cylinder 7 and piston 15. The interiorof the oscillatory head 6 and cylinder 7 is supplied with suitable fluid preferably oil. The head of the piston 15 is provided with an opening; 17, 01" comparatively large capacity controlled by a valve 18. The valve is provided with an elongated hollow stem 19, extending through a central opening in the head of the cylinder 15, and provided at its inner end, with a spaced collar 19', whereby the valve is permitted a limited reciprocatory movement to. and from the head of the piston. Moved toward the piston it closes the opening 17, and when'shifted therefrom it opens such opening to p'ermit'the free flow of the fluid or oil. The hollow stem of this valve, however, provides a ly-pass when the main openingis closed. It will be readily seen thatas the piston moves toward the head 11 of the cylinder 7, the pressure of the entrapped oil or governing fluid intermediate the piston and the head 11 will cause the closure of the valve 18, and such oil will escape slowly through the bypass-passage in the stem 'of such valve, toward the rear of the piston, and into the chamber of the head 6. This restricted flow of the oil in one direction will retard the relative movement of the piston andcylinder during the closing action of the door. However, upon the opening of the door and reverse move ment of the piston, the pressure of the oil 1 within the chamber of the head 6' and to the right of the piston in Fig. 1 will effect the unseating of the valve, permitting the fluid or oil to pass freely through the orifice.

The capacity of the by pass 20, through the valve stem is automatically varied with the relative movement of the piston within the cylinder 7 by means of a tapered stud or spike 21, mounted in the head 11 of the cylinder and projecting axially through the by-pass opening 19. When the piston 15 is in retracted position or spaced away from the head 11, the reduced extremity only of the stud Ell extends within the laypass and hence oil is permitted to flow through such by-pass with comparative freedom. As the piston advances in. the cylinder, traveling axially over the tapered stud 21, the gradually incr asing; diameter of the stud proportionately re laces the ca oacity of the by-pass '20, thereby gradua ly retarding the return flow of the oil or control mediunr By disengaging the operating; arm orextension 12 from the cyiii'ider head 11, the tapered stud 21 may be adjusted in relation with the head. 11 and travel of the piston, to regulate the capacity of the by-pass at various points of operative travel of the piston 15. A filling plup; 22 is provided by which the supply of oilo'r control fluid may be replenished within. the chamber of the head 6 and cylinder 7. In Fig. '7 there is'shown' a modification, wherein in lieu of the actuating spring 8 there is employed a pulley weight 24, the cord of which is wound upon a pulley 26 by the opening movementzof the door; This pulley 26 is -.carried upon the shaft 53?. mounted in suitable ball bearings 28, within a housing 29, upon a main supporting bracket 21%). The shaft 27 also, carries a gear pinion 31, meshing with a similar 32, upon a second stud or shafts-l3, also inou d in ball bearings 34: within the housing 28'. This second stud carries at its opposite end a beveled pear pinion 3%, meshing with a corresponding set of bevel gear tceth 35 upon the upper end of the swinging head 6.' This'head 6 is mounted upon the main shaft 4:, which carries the crank head 5 and is operativelyv connected with the door in the manner before described. The construction is such that the rotation'of'the head 6 by the opening 'movement ef the door will operate through the internieshing gear pinions to rotate the pulley 26, and

l l (l points throughout its length thereby automatically varying the capacity of the bypass ill different points in the range of movement of the piston, the closing movement of the door may be automatically in creased or retarded at different points in its travel.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided. a de vice of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which ObVlOll$- ly is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing-y, from the principle involved or sacrificing: any of its advantages. 7

lVhile in order to comply with the statute the invention has beenv descibed in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understool that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a combined door closer and check, a supporting bracket for attachment to the frame of the door, a stationary crank shaft mounted in the supporting; bracket attached to the door frame, chambered head mounted for oscillatory movement about said crank shaft. actuating means for the oscillatory head energized by the opening of the door by which the head is oscillated upon release of the door, an arm connected with the head and operatively connected with the door by which the oscillatory movement of the head under the influence of said actuating means is transmitted to the door. a cylinder communicating with said chambered head, a piston within said cylinder, a pitman connectin the piston with the crank head of said stationary crank shaft whereby said cylinder and piston are afforded relative axial move ment upon oscillation of the oscillatory head, a valved opening in the piston head, a bypass independent of the valved opening permitting; the reduced flow of a fluid governing medium past the piston when the valved opening is closed, a solid tapered stud carried by the head of the cylinder and extendinn within the bypass whereby the capacity of the bypass will be progressively varied by the relative adjustment of the piston and cylinder.

2. In a construction of the character described, a stationary spindle having a crank head fixedly attached thereto, means for mounting; said spindle upon. door frame,

cylinder pivotally mounted upon said spindle, means energized by the opening of the door for oscillating the cylinder about said spindle, a piston within said cylinder, operatively connected with the stationary crank head, said piston and cylinder being relatively mo able upon the swinging movement of the cylinder about the fixed spindle, a valved port in said piston permitting the free flow of a governing fluid within the cylinder past the piston when the latter is moved in one direction, a bypass independent of the valved ports through which a restrict-ed flow of fluid is permitted upon movement of the piston in opposite direction and a solidtapered stud projecting within the bypass varying the capacity thereof in accordance with the relative position of the cylinder and piston.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with door closing means of a governor therefor including a cylinder and a piston relatively movable in relation one with the other in unison with the swinging movement of the door, a valved port in said piston permitting free flow of a governing fluid when the cylinder and piston are relatively moved in one direction, a bypass independent of the valved port permitting a restricted flow of the governing fluid when the cylinder and piston are relatively moved in the opposite direction, and a tapered stud projecting within the bypass, the stud and piston being relatively movable with the swinging of the door to correspondingly vary the capacity of said bypass.

l. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting bracket to be mounted upon a door frame, a spindle stationarily mounted in said bracket, a swinging head havimg operative engagement with a door. a torsional spring surrounding the spindle and engaged at one end with the supporting bracket, said swinging head having thereon an arcuate internally grooved lug in the groove of which. the ter minal coil at the opposite end of said spring is engaged, a plunger in said swinging: head operatively connected with the spindle, the plunger and head beingafforded relative adjustment by the swinging action of the head in unison with the door, and means for controlling the movement of the door by such relative adjustment of the head and plunger.

5. In a door check, a stationary crank shaft, a cylinder pivoted upon the crank shaft and movable thereabout in unison with the swinuii movement of the door, the position of the stationary crank in relation with the cylinder being such that in the normal operation of the door the cylinder will move to and fro across a ninety degree position in relation with the crank shaft whereby the relative throw of the crank will be greatest as the door approaches closed position.

6. In a door closing mechanism, a stationary crank shaft, a cylinder swinging with the door, means for actuating the cylinder, a piston within the cylinder operatively connected with the cranlc shaft, the stationary cranhshaftbeing positioned between the short dead center point and ninety degree position in relation with the normal position of the cylinder, the direction of movement of the cylinder increasing the effective angle oil the cylinder and crank shaft.

7. In a door closing apparatus,a supporting' bracket, a stationary spindle carried thereby, an oscillatory head mounted upon the spindle and operatively connected with the door, means for actuating the oscillatory head, and a recessed arcuate lug upon the head overhanging the supporting bracket.

8. In a door closing apparatus, a supporting bracket, a stationary spindle carried thereby, an oscillatory head mounted upon the spindle and operatively connected with the door nieans for'actuating the oscillatory head, an ofi'set lug upon the swinging head within the oflset of which the supporting bracket extends. I

9. In a door closing apparatus, a supporting bracket, a stationary spindle carried thereby, an oscillatory'head mounted upon the spindle and operatively connected with the door, means for actuating the oscillatory head, and a dash pot governor, having acontrolling by-pass and means for automatically regulating the capacity of the bypass in accordance with the relative position of the door.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my handthis 9th day of December A. D. 1921. 7

WILLIAM J. KUHLS.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. KUHLs,

GEORGE O HELMIG. 

